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Crazy Rich Asians

Critics Consensus

With a terrific cast and a surfeit of visual razzle dazzle, Crazy Rich Asians takes a satisfying step forward for screen representation while deftly drawing inspiration from the classic -- and still effective -- rom-com formula.

Crazy Rich Asians
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Movie Info

"Crazy Rich Asians" follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Golding), to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick's family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country's wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick's arm puts a target on Rachel's back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick's own disapproving mother (Yeoh) taking aim. And it soon becomes clear that while money can't buy love, it can definitely complicate things.

Feels blithely liberated from the obligation to offer up suffering that has long been part of the implicit bargain made with so many mainstream movies focused on characters of color-that they are treated as marketable in relation to the pain they portray

On top of its historical significance, Crazy Rich Asians is a great movie, period. I laughed, I cried, sometimes both at the same time. Thanks Jon M. Chu and the phenomenal cast, it's such a joyful experience that's both funny AND romantic.

Audience Reviews for Crazy Rich Asians

½

Here is a typical rom-com of the 1930s type (you know, the Great Depression, when everybody dreamed that being rich was the answer to life's difficulties, and the movies reflected that) in that a poor ingenue outsider faces considerable obstacles of the familial variety when she dares to aspire to marry the rich favorite son. So overdone, so familiar, as to be of the go-to-sleep-with- the-teevee-still-on variety. But that's merely the opening premise. Beyond is an intricately designed cultural assault, no less, in a cinematic bid for Asian inclusion and equality that implements your familiarity with those motifs to make its point. There's simply too much to list and so I'll only note that the romantic lead attempts a Cary Grant impersonation - shamelessly. Heading this assault is the indomitable Michelle Yeoh (who I love, and so enough about that!) as the hard-nosed matriarch. But, back to the film: pretty good.

Kevin M. Williams

Super Reviewer

This is a good movie that really shoots right down the middle for mass appeal. It does touch on some intricate details about growing up and living with an Asian family but really plays out as fancy blockbuster rom-com. Since this film does naturally come from a different angle than most rom-coms, however, with different issues and obstacles, it at least stands out. The B-story involving Astrid seems rushed and incomplete but leaves open the option for a sequel that will explore her more, which I would like to see.

Sanjay Rema

Super Reviewer

Better than expected. I was glad they left a few things out from the book honestly, though I would have liked a little more Kitty Pong!

Nicki Marie

Super Reviewer

½

Crazy Rich Asians is a frothy mix of familiar 90s romantic comedy cliches and tropes but now with an all-Asian cast and Asian culture given a dignified spotlight. Thanks to the strides in representation, it makes the familiar feel fresh again. This is a very Pretty Woman princess fantasy story of an ordinary woman, Rachel Chu (the great Constance Wu) falling in love with a rich man who then whisks her away to his rich family home out of country and introduces her to the world of the cloistered elites, ex-girlfriends, and hangers-on and their disapproval. Much of the conflict hinges on her feeling accepted by her man's scowling, scary mother played by the formidable Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The two-hour running time mostly consists of a lot of blandly nice people. I think enough of these supporting characters could have been consolidated or eliminated to give more space to characters that matter. The film reminded me, in some regards, of the 50 Shades series where we jump from scene to scene to celebrate the extravagance of an elite lifestyle of luxury. It's intended to alienate Rachel and contrast with her humble, hard-working, honest sensibilities, but after two or three of these, I don't think it's quite having that effect. Wu (TV's Fresh Off the Boat) is a charming, loveable lead, and the film has fun, colorful characters played by Awkwafina (Ocean's 8) and Ken Jeong (The Hangover trilogy), who amazingly doesn't overstay his welcome. The production design and costumes are sensational and might even get some Oscar attention. Crazy Rich Asians is a fairly formulaic but pleasant enough movie, and the fact that an all-Asian cast rom-com is slotted as a summer movie is a positive sign. The end results are a fizzy fantasy repackaged but still entertaining and without a sense of pandering.
Nate's Grade: B-